Sections

Surging Toronto Blue Jays beat slumping Detroit Tigers 8-2

Toronto Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera rounds third base after his solo home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello during the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Lind’s two-run double off Rick Porcello (8-3) in the sixth put Toronto ahead 3-2, and Aaron Loup got out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the bottom of the inning in relief of R.A. Dickey (6-4).

The AL East-leading Blue Jays added three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth in winning for the 18th time in 22 games.

Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler homered for Detroit, but Kinsler also left the bases loaded twice. The AL Central-leading Tigers left 11 runners on base in their fourth straight loss. Detroit has dropped 12 of 16.

Jose Bautista also had three hits for Toronto, including a two-run double in the ninth.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista is congratulated in the dugout after scoring along with teammate Melky Cabrera on a double by designated hitter Adam Lind during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Melky Cabrera opened the scoring in the first with a solo shot, but Miguel Cabrera answered in the bottom half with his 11th homer of the year. Kinsler’s home run in the third put the Tigers ahead 2-1.

Porcello seemed to be cruising along, but he allowed a two-out double to Melky Cabrera in the sixth, followed by a walk to Bautista. Lind then hit a drive over Austin Jackson’s head in Comerica Park’s cavernous centre field, scoring both runners to put the Blue Jays ahead.

Dickey almost gave the lead right back, allowing a single in between two walks. But with the bases loaded, Loup came on and struck out pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez before getting Rajai Davis and Kinsler on foul popups.

Dickey allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, walking four and striking out four. Loup pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Porcello allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings.

Toronto padded its lead in the eighth. Cabrera hit an RBI single and Lind added a run-scoring double in that inning. By the time the game ended, it seemed there were as many Blue Jays fans left at the ballpark as Tigers fans.

Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez made his major league debut after being called up from the minors before the game. He entered as a substitute in the seventh, and his first plate appearance was eventful.

With men on first and second in the eighth, he hit a grounder to third. Brett Lawrie fielded it and stepped on third for a force, but his throw to first hit Suarez around the upper back for an error, leaving runners at second and third. The Tigers left them on base too.